Association between anxiety and pain in the latent phase of labour upon admission to the maternity hospital: A prospective, descriptive study. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Floris, Lucia; Irion, Olivier
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 20:Number 4(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 446
• Page End: 455
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: anxiety -- labour first stage -- labour onset -- parturition -- patient satisfaction; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105313502695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

This study investigated the association between anxiety experienced by the mother, a request for analgesia, and the level of pain at maternity hospital admission in early labour. Anxiety levels were measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale. Anxiety and Visual Analogue Scale scores were compared using a linear regression model and indicated a statistically significant association between the anxiety state and degree of pain ( p < 0.016; Y = 0.895 x score + 32.656). There was no significant association between anxiety and a request for epidural analgesia. During labour, an evaluation of anxiety should be associated with an assessment of the perceived degree of pain.